This is a sponsored guest post.
The popularity of hardwood floors is obvious. When asked, new homeowners prefer hardwood over almost any other floor covering. And there is a good reason for that: hardwood floors are beautiful and give warmth to any room. They also have relatively simple upkeep and spills and other messes are easy to quickly sweep or mop. Practicing a regular cleaning routine means that these floors can give you many years of comfort and enjoyment. Here are some ideas on how to keep your hardwood floors looking as new as the day they were installed.
Sweep or Vacuum
This first step is very important since before any deeper cleaning can take place you must remove any debris that may end up scratching the floor. If you prefer to vacuum, make sure your machine does not have a beater bar attachment since this will damage the surface. If you choose a broom, make sure it has soft bristles. Get into the habit of sweeping or vacuuming as often as possible, at least once a week.
Periodic Cleaning
Use a liquid cleaner such as a commercial wood-cleaning solution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions of use. If you prefer to make your own cleaner, use 10 parts warm water, one part vinegar, and some drops of liquid Castile soap.
Once your floors have been swept or vacuumed, saturate a sponge mop, a rag, or a piece of cloth in the cleaning solution. Get rid of excess liquid. Mop without oversaturating the floor. Go over the entire floor a second time with a clean rag or mop with a minimum amount of water to remove any traces of the cleaning liquid. Do a third pass with a clean dry rag. Make sure not to leave any moisture on the floor since it will damage it.
Repair Any Dents or Scratches
After a thorough cleaning, you may notice scratches on your floor. To repair them get a furniture repair touch-up pen in a color that matches your floor and carefully paint along the scratch. If it goes any deeper, use a crayon the same color as your wood floor and rub it until the gap is filled. Heat the area with a blow dryer on high and finish by buffing with a clean cloth.
Treat Stains or Dark Spots
A soft cloth and dish detergent are useful when you need to break down grease stains. Rub-down the spot and repeat if necessary. Heel marks can be removed with fine steel wool and floor wax. If dealing with persistent dark spots, bleach or vinegar may be applied. After letting it soak for about an hour, rinse with a damp cloth and blot dry.
Take Preventive Actions
Avoid dirt being tracked into your home and damaging your hardwood floors by having doormats by all exterior doors and placing felt floor protectors under furniture legs. Also, add rugs to hallways and heavy traffic areas. Ask your family members and guests to remove their shoes before stepping into the house.Everything about hardwood floors that are kept clean and looking beautiful, speaks about how much you love your home. And if you find that there are some areas that look too worn down, calling a professional to restore their finish may be the best way to give your floors back their original look.
